Smriti Irani education row: DU suspends five officials

"Five of the non-teaching staff of the School of Open Learning have been suspended for accessing the confidential file and then leaking it," Malay Neerav, DU joint dean of students's welfare and media coordinator, was quoted as saying by CNN-IBN on Friday.

"These are officials below section officer level," he said.

While Irani appealed to the DU to reinstate the suspended officials, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh hit out at the Narendra Modi government over the issue.

"5 officials of Delhi University suspended for leaking HRD Minster's educational qualification details!Does this Govt believe in transparency," tweeted Singh on Saturday.

"ACHHE DIN AA GAYE HEIN. Would anyone stand up for the suspended officials of DU ?" he asked.

"Thanks Smriti for appealing to VC DU for reinstating DU officials. Now let people of this Country know your actual Educational Qualification," Singh further posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

On Wednesday, Irani had broken her silence on the education row and asked people to judge her by her work.

"My organisation judged me based on how I delivered my assignments. I humbly request all people to judge me by my work," said Irani.

"Extraneous circumstances are being created to divert my attention from my work," she added.

Defending Irani, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Uma Bharti on Wednesday said she wants to see the certificate of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) president Sonia Gandhi.

"What is the educational qualification of Madam Sonia Gandhi? I want to see her certificate to make sure how qualified she is. Only then, the Congress will get the right to comment on Smriti Irani's educational qualifications," said Bharti.

"Just because UPA was heading the central government, Sonia Gandhi was going around giving directions on running the government," she said.

  Congress leader Ajay Maken sparked a political controversy by questioning Irani's education qualification.

"What a Cabinet of Modi?HRD Minister (Looking after Education) Smriti Irani is not even a graduate!Look at her affidavit at ECI site pg 11!" tweeted Maken.

"Media which went on an overdrive in analysing all UPA ministry formations, should conduct a fair assessment even now," he posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

While Irani refused to comment on Maken's statement, other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders lashed out at the Congress leader.

"It is very unfortunate if such things are said about her. Smriti Irani speaks in Hindi and English in Parliament and Mr Modi has kept her qualifications in mind," said Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at a press briefing.

Reacting to Maken's comment, Minister of State of Textiles Santosh Gangwar questioned Congress president Sonia Gandhi's educational qualification.

"I would like to ask what is Sonia Gandhi's educational qualification," asked Gangwar.

Maken's comment was criticised by even Congress ally National Conference (NC) leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

"To say that someone needs to be educated to be HRD Min is like saying one needs to be a pilot for Civil Aviation or a miner for Coal Min," Abdullah tweeted.

"That's the problem with 140 letters - take 'educated' in last tweet to mean 'highly qualified' but I'm sure you get what I mean regardless," he posted.